100 Word Stories – Key Picture Prompt

by limebirdwriters

Merry Friday one and all! As always, the Limebird Writers take part in the 100 Word Challenges, set by Julias Place. This week the prompt is a picture prompt (below). If you want to do your own 100 story, then scroll down to the bottom for more information. 🙂

This week we have myself and LimebirdNeeks taking part. Apologies for how sombre mine is, it’s just where the prompt took me this week!

LimebirdBeth

The frantic turn in the lock of the car when I drove your mother to hospital.

The click in the door when we brought you home for the first time.

The door to the drawer where we kept your first lost tooth safe for the tooth fairy.

The twist and the pull of your first locker at school, your uniform not quite fitting.

The key handed over for your first car, I waved you away proudly.

The cold hard clunk of the lock as the mortician slid the door shut.

The key for my heart will be buried with you.

LimebirdNeeks

She cackled and crowed as
Her blackened heart showed.
“I will kill you this night!”
She screamed to the world of her plight.

Her bony hands kept slapping the ground
Scratching their wounds across each grassy mound,
She had dropped and lost the skeleton key
That would open the flood gates releasing all enmity.

The terrible sacrifices daily made
Failed to prevent the daylights’ fade
That twisted her bones and stole all her sight
Forever cursed to wander the night.

“You’ve lost it, foul beast!”
She said through clenched teeth,
Her hand raked the grass
Searching- finding it, at last!

Would you like to have a go at a 100 word story? Well, head on over to Julia’s Place for the rules and either add your offering in the comments, or do your own post, but don’t forget to either link back to us or let us know in the comments so we can come and read!

This prompt stumped me, so it’s awesome to see both of you come out with such powerful stories! *old school fist pump* *appropriate whooping*

Beth, I actually really like how you weaved the keys together in snippets of a life. Each moment is so clear and defined – even the end – that I truly got a sense for both father and child. My brain made her a daughter, though that could be my own bias. Either way, it’s packed with strong emotion, and it doesn’t pull any punches. One of my favorites from you!

Neeks, nice use of rhyming stanzas to tell your story. It felt very faery tale-ish, and I could hear those bony hands slapping and scratching at the ground. I like the implied terror quite a bit – worthy of a children’s horror story. In fact, I almost picture this one being told in chanting rhythm around a crackling bonfire, with a special shout at the end!

Great work, Limebirds! While these were sad and scary, I smiled to see such loving craft. It’s one of the reasons I love coming here. Thanks for posting and making my morning that much brighter. Virtual hugs all around!

This was my response – The Key
A slight vibration tingled through the blades of grass as the discarded key finally laid still. Thrown from its owners hand without a second thought. A new lock, a new door replacing it. It’s memories dissipate into the earth to be forgotten.
Memories of a young couple crossing the threshold, a newborn carried with utmost care and carefree children pulling at the string that held it through the letterbox. The key once again became a metal shape without its owner’s essence printed upon it. The rain and cold would rust its surface, the grass grow tall around it. Lost forever.